Retail sales in Howard County grew by 8.6 percent during the 2007 fiscal year, according to Iowa State University’s Retail Sales Analysis and Report for Howard County.
    In 2006, $53.7 million was generated from retail sales in the county, while $58.3 million was spent in total retail sales in 2007. All sales figures were adjusted for inflation.
     The county’s 8.6 percent increase is compared to 1.8 percent growth for  peer groups, which included all the counties in Northeast Iowa and others of a similar size and with similar demographics. The average retail sales in the peer groups rose from $4,594.60 million in 2006 to $4,675.80 in 2007.
    The state’s average retail growth was 1.7 percent.
    Howard County Economic Development Executive Director Ken Paxton said in general the county performed very well on the report despite a “limited retail offering.”
    “Just think what we could do if we had additional retail!” Paxton said. 
    The retail sales analysis also looked into demographics that can affect a county’s retail sector. It showed that Howard County is maintaining its population level versus its peer group.
    From 2000 through 2006 Howard County’s population grew 1.1 percent, while its peer group saw a loss of 1.3 percent in population numbers. The State of Iowa saw a growth of 3.9 percent during this same time period.
    The study also reports on commuting patterns for employees throughout the county, comparing the number of workers leaving an area with the number of workers coming into an area.
    “The results support our Housing Needs Study. For all the counties in Iowa, there is a negative flow rate of .92. Meaning more workers are leaving their home county than coming in,” Paxton said.
     The flow ratio for Howard County is 1.2, meaning more workers commuting into Howard County to work, but live elsewhere.
    “This is a positive for our retail environment but it also indicates our workers are not living in Cresco or the county,” Paxton said.
    The Iowa State report also researched employment and average wages for county residents.
    The average salary for Howard County residents in 2006 was $28,215, a growth of 7 percent since 2005. The peer group’s average was $27,287, up 3.8 percent since 2005.
    “These kinds of results can be useful in attracting new business and new residents,” Paxton said of the study. “I will use this data as I continue to try and attract new retailers and expand our housing market.    This type of information should help retailers consider Howard County as a new site location.”